“You do not know him, and yet intend to finish a work of education with him?  What great chances you are hazarding!”

The next morning Froebel asked his friend what goal in life he had set before him, and Langethal replied: 

“Like the apostle, I would fain proclaim the gospel to all men according to the best of my powers, in order to bring them into close communion with the Redeemer.”

Froebel answered, thoughtfully: 

“If you desire that, you must, like the apostles, know men.  You must be able to enter into the life of every one—­here a peasant, there a mechanic.  If you can not, do not hope for success; your influence will not extend far.”

How wise and convincing the words sounded!  And Froebel touched the sensitive spot in the young minister, who was thoroughly imbued with the sacred beauty of his life-task, yet certainly knew the Gospels, his classic authors, and apostolic fathers much better than he did the world.

He thoughtfully followed Froebel, who, with Middendorf and the boys, led him up the Steiger, the mountain whose summit afforded the magnificent view I have described.  It was the hour when the setting sun pours its most exquisite light over the mountains and valleys.  The heart of the young clergyman, tortured by anxious doubts, swelled at the sight of this magnificence, and Froebel, seeing what was passing in his mind, exclaimed: 

“Come, comrade, let us have one of our old war-songs.”

The musical “black Jager” of yore willingly assented; and how clearly and enthusiastically the chorus of boyish voices chimed in!

When it died away, the older man passed his arm around his friend’s shoulders, and, pointing to the beautiful region lying before them in the sunset glow, exclaimed: 

“Why seek so far away what is close at hand?  A work is established here which must be built by the hand of God!  Implicit devotion and self-sacrifice are needed.”

While speaking, he gazed steadfastly into his friend’s tearful eyes, as if he had found his true object in life, and when he held out his hand Langethal clasped it—­he could not help it.

That very day a letter to the Counts Stolberg informed them that they must seek another tutor for their sons, and Froebel and Keilhau could congratulate themselves on having gained their Langethal.

The management of the school was henceforward in the hands of a man of character, while the extensive knowledge and the excellent method of a well-trained scholar had been obtained for the educational department.  The new institute now prospered rapidly.  The renown of the fresh, healthful life and the able tuition of the pupils spread far beyond the limits of Thuringia.  The material difficulties with which the head-master had had to struggle after the erection of the large new buildings were also removed when Froebel’s prosperous brother in Osterode decided to take part in the work and move to Keilhau.  He understood farming, and, by purchasing more land and woodlands, transformed the peasant holding into a considerable estate.